Side frame



Aug. 16, 1932. M. H. HAMMETT SIDEv FRAME Filed Nov. 7, 1930 IIIIIIIIImII INVENTOR Zvw V W4 ATTORNEY5.

,4, tion is to provide a railway Patented Aug. 16, 1932 Unire rares PATENT or-rica MERTON I-I. HAMMETT, F DAVENPORT, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE BETTENDORF COM- E'ANY, OF BETTENDOIt-F, IOVJ'A, A CORPORATION 0F IOWA SIDE FRAME Application led November 7, 1930. Serial No, 493,997.

This invention relates to railway car trucks, and more particularly to the construction of the side frames therefor.

One of the objects of the present invencar truck side frame of new and improved construction which will lmaterially strengthen and reinforce the spring supporting portion and minimize distortion or deflection thereof under heavy loads.

Another object is to provide a car truck side frame with extension webs, so placed as to minimize deflection of the spring supporting portion and so placed that no excessive mass of metal is formed to cause foundry trouble such as poor metal, shrinkage cracks, and diiiiculty in removing co-res.

Another object is to provide a car truck side frame with reinforcing members in the region of greatest strain in the application of heavy loads without materially increasing the weight of the side frame.

A further object is to provide an improved car truck side frame having top and bottom webs in the spring supporting portion with inclined webs at the sides of and extending` upwardly from the upper web of the spring supporting portion toward'the bolster columns and merging into the walls of the side frame, and with diagonal tension webs connecting the top and bottomy webs of the spring supporting portion between the side walls of the side frame.

A still further obJect is to provide an improved car truck side frame having vertical struts between the top and bottom webs of the spring supporting portion which, in conjunction with diagonal reinforcing` webs, form an inverted queen post truss in the spring supporting portion of the side frame, and which is materially strengthened by means of diagonal webs which extend upwardly from the sides of the top web and merge into the column portions of the side frame.

With the above and other objects in view which will be apparent from the detailed description to follow, the present invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts that will be readi- 1y apparent to thoseA skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

In the drawing which illustrates a suitable embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a railway car truck side frame, a portion of the spring supporting portion and tension chord being broken away to show a reinforcing web; Y

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom 'plan view of the side frame shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. L1 is a section taken substantially` on the line 4:-4 of Fig. 1 showing` the diagonal web and also showing the webs which extend from the upper web of the spring supporting portion and which merge into the side Walls of the side frame; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1 showing the web which connects the lower edges of the side walls of the tension chord together.

Referring to the accompanying drawing in which like numerals refer to like parts P' throughout the several views, the railway car truck side frame of the present invention is preferably in the form of a single piece casting.y The side frame is so constructed as to include a compressi-on chord A, a tension chord embodying a central horizontal spring supporting portion B spaced from the compression chord A, and inclined end portions C extending upwardly toward the ends of the compression chord Y A, and spaced bolster columns D extending upwardly from the ends of the central portion Bto the compression chord A. The spaced bolster columns D provide a suitable opening E for the recepsoY tion of the ends of the car truck bolsters (not shown) The compression chord A in section is of inverted channel shape and embodies spaced sides 1 and an interconnecting web 2, and in a similar manner the inclined portions C of the tens on chord are formed of spaced sides 3 and webs 4 integrally connecting the lower edges of the sides 3 to provide an upwardly presenting channel-shaped cross section as shownin Fig. 5. The bolster columns D are also channel-shaped in cross section and each includes sides 5 integral with the sides 1 and 3-of the vtension and compression chords, respectively, anda web 6 extendingitransversely of the side frames and interconnecting the edges of the bolster columns adjacent thecentral bolster opening E. As shown in F ig. 1, the edges of the metal defining the'triangular-openings -formed by the inclined tension chordsC, the compression chord A and the bolster columnsD is provided with a continuous narrow flange 6a which `assists in reinforcing the side frames.

The spring supporting portion .B of the tension chord is provided with spaced sides 7 integral with-the sides Sof the inclined portions Cfand with a bottom web 8 integrally connecting ythe llower edges of the sides 7. The horizontal portion vB is also provided :with an :upper 'horizontal web 9 integrally connectingthe upper edges ofthe sides 7 and extending between and merging'into the transversewebs'of A.the .bolster columns D. The flat upper f-web 9 .extends .laterally be- Ayond the sides?? of '.thecentral ,portion vrB to form horizontal side flanges ;1O .which profvide ia relatively avide l.spring 4support immediately/beneath ythe ends of the .bolster-to be supported within -.the'.bolster opening E.

The flanges f1.0 .are reinforced -by vertical Awebs lll l'which connect vthe under sides of the flanges .10 withlt'he "outer surfacesof the vertical 'sides 7 of rthe -spring .supporting :portion B.

Theflat upper @web-9 extends from the'base of one bolster column B to-the base `ofthe vother-bolster column, so that arelatively wide :fandfarelativelylong flat spring supporting `portion is provided between the'bolster col- .umns, .which permits the use of a relatively large-number of bolster supporting springs and gives an increased distance along Vthe centerline of the spring supporting'portion "forthe placingvof' such springs in -any desired group.

Tn order'to effectively strengthenrthe ten- -sion `"chord, reinforcing /webs 112 vhave been "provided to extend diagonally across lthe Xlower corners ofthe bolsterfreceiving openingE. 'Thesewebs :are `formed with outer portions forming .continuations of .the flanges 1.0 kwhich.''merge into the flanges 10 at points inwardly' ofthe columnsD and extend upwardly from the anges 10 and merge into the side walls yof the side frames at a point beyond the junctures of the upper flat web 9 with the transverse webs 6 of the bolster columns, and with inner portions curved inwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, which merge into the inner faces of the transverse webs 6 of the bolster columns substantially.

lt will be seen therefore that due to the provision of the webs 12 a very long spring seat may be obtained substantially along the longitudinal center line of the side frame, and a relatively wide seat may be obtained along 'the transverse center line, without any sacrifice in strength of the spring supporting portion.

Spaced vertical struts 13 are provided between the sides 7 of the spring supporting .integral with the web 4 which diverge in decreasing width toward the lower horizontal web 8 of the central portion D, and merge 'into the web S- substantially in the region of the vertical struts 13.

In order to further materially strengthen the spring supporting portion, a tension member 16 is provided at each end of the lower web 8 and is so placed thatit is necessary .for it to elongate before any deflection of the spring .supporting portion can occur. This .added tension member is in the form of a web which extends diagonally upwardly from substantially the connection of the vertical struts 18 with'the'lower web 8 and'merges Ainto the .upper web l9 in the region ofthe connections of the transverse webs 'G ofthe bolster columns with the flat upper web 9.

If desired, each web 16 directly belowthe vupper horizontal web-9 maybe centrallyrecessed at 17, .as shown directly below l@the web 9, thus providing spaced "leg -portions joining in with the sides`7 of the springsup- "l porting portion.

It will thus be seen that l have Iprovided a tension chord comprising the central portion 'B and inclined portions-C, with reinforcing webs .16 which extend upwardly at an angle from the lower horizontal web 8 and merge into the connectionsbetween the upper horizontal web 9 and the transverse webs 6 of the .vertical-bolster columns D.

Itwill further be seen that I have provided each inclined portion@ of the tension chord with webs 4 which terminate in flanges 14a .that extend downwardly-to a horizontal position and then mergeintothe bottom web 8 substantially at the sides 7 in the region of the integral ,connections between 'the vertical reinforcing struts 13, lower horizontal web 8, and rein-forcing web 16.

It will also be seen that I have provided reinforcing members 12. extending from the side flanges upwardly at an angle across the corners of the bolster opening and merging into the sides of the column D beyond the transverse webs 6 of the bolster columns and also merging intothe inner faces of the transverse webs 6.

The reinforcing web 16 provides an added tensionV member for the tension chord comprising the portions B and C which-is so placed that it is necessary for it to elongate before Vany deflection of the spring supporting portion can occur. In other words, the spring supporting portion is provided with vertical reinforcing struts 13 which connect .the upper and lower webs 8 and 9, respectively, and with inclined webs 16 which eX- tend from the intersections of the struts 18 with the web 8 and merge into the ends of the upper web 9 substantially in the region of the transverse webs of the bolster columns therewith. This in eect provides a bridge truss action which, in combination with the iiange portions 14n of the webs 4 that connect into the horizontal web 8 and with the inclined webs 12 extending across the corners of the bolster opening, provides reinforcing means arranged in the region wherethe great- 'est strain comes in the application of heavy loads, without materially affecting the weight of the side frame. l

The load carried on the spring supporting portion is transmitted to the inclined reinl forcing web 16 at the liange portion 14a so that greatly added strength is suppliedv at the regions where the greatest distortion would otherwise occur, thereby minimizing distortion and deflection of the spring supporting portion, and strengthening the side frame at this point. This truss action places the web 5 9 and vertical struts 13 in compression, and

the lower webs 8 and inclined webs 16 in tension, thus, as just described, providing a well reinforced tension chord which prevents substantial distortion and deflection of the spring supporting portion under the application of heavy loads.

It has been found by forming the apertures in the webs 4 and the diagonal reinforcing .webs 16 that the. weight thereof is reduced without impairing the strength, and that the manufacturethereof is materially facilitated by reducingcooling strains. These apertures also add to the ease with which the cores used in the casting operation may be removed.

In the side frame structure shown and described, it will be observed that the reinforcing webs and tension chords are so constructed as to permit the spring supporting portions bolster webs and reinforcing webs to merge without forming excessive metal at feature in that it eliminates foundry troubleI and provides for fine grained'satisfactory metal which is free from shrink pockets,`

pipes, and shrinkage cracks.

Aside from the specific embodiments of the invention herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I do not desire to limit the invention to the exact construction shown as I desire to claim the invention broadly as well as specifically asiiidicated in the app-ended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A one-piece car truck side frame comprisingv a compression chord, a tension chord, and spa-ced bolster columns extending vertically between said'compression and tension chords, said tension. chord having a central horizontal spring supporting portion including` an upper web joined at its ends with said bolster column, extension flanges on said web extending beyond the sides offsaid frame, each flange having continuation webs at its ends extending upwardly at an angle in gradually decreasing width and merging into the sides of said bolster columns outwardly of the transverse edges thereof, a lower web spaced from said upper web, and inclined webs extending' from said lower web and joined with said upper web in the region of the connections of said upper web with said bolster columns.

2. A one-piece car truck side frame comprisin g a compression chord, a tension chord, and spaced bolster columns extending vertically between said compression and tension chords, said bolster columns including spaced sides and a transverse web integrally connecting said sides at their inner edges, said tension chord having a central horizontal spring supporting portion including spaced sides, an upper web joined at its ends with said bolster columns and at its side edges with said last mentioned spaced sides, extension flanges onl said upper web extending outwardly beyond said sides, continuation webs integral with said 'flanges extending upwardly at an angle and merging into the sides of said bolster columns outwardly of the transverse webs, a. lower web spaced from said upper web and joined at its side edges with said spaced sides, and inclined webs integral with and extending from said lower web and joining with said upper Web in the region of the connections of said bolster columns with said upper web, said inclined webs being integral with the sides of said spring supporting portion.

A 3. A one-piece car truck side frame comprising a compression chord, a tension chord, and spaced bolster columns extending verticall y between said compression and tension chords, said bolster columns including spaced sides `and a transverse web integrally connesting said side at their Vinner edges, said 5 tension chord having yal central horizontal 3,0 ilanges on said Iupper web extending outA- wardly beyondsaid spaced sides, continuation websintegral with said flanges extending up ywardly at an Vangle and merging into thesides of said bolster columns outwardly of the transverse webs, said Acontinuation webs also merging into the transverse webs olE said bolster columns, a lower web spaced from `said upper web and joined at its side edges with said spaced sides, and inclined webs integral with and extending from said lower web Aand joining with said upper web in :the region ofthe connections of said bolster columns with said `upper web, said inclined Vwebs being integral with thev sides of said spring supporting portion.

4. A one-piece car truck side Jframe com- .,prisingla compression chord, a tension chord and spaced bolster columns extending vertically-between said compression and tension chords and forininga bolster opening therebetween,said tension chord having a central `gliorizontal.spring supporting portion including space dsides, rupper and lower webs extending.horizontally bet geen said sides, said upper web being integral with and extend` ing from the base ot one bolster column to the baseof the other bolstercolumn and also extending ltransversely beyond said spaced sides to form o verhanging flanges, `inclined lwebs extending from said lower web and merging :into .said upper web in the region 4of ,the connections of said bolster columns therewith, and reinforcing webs extending diagonally. across the. corners ofsaid bolster o iening,.said reinforcing webs merging into said overhanging flanges inwardly of said lbolster columns and into the walls of said bolster columns .outwardly Vof said bolster @penins- 5. A one-piece car truck side 'frame comprising-a compression chord, a tension chord `and spaced bolster columnsextending vertically between said compression and tension chords and .forming a bolster opening -therebetweensaid tension chord having a centi-ral horizontal spring supporting portionincluding. spaced sides, upper and lower riebs lextending vhorizontally between said sides, said upper web being integral with and extendingfrom the base of one bolster column to the base of the other bolster column and also extending transversely beyond said .spaced sides to vform overhanging manges, .inclined webs extending from said .lowemwebnnd merginginto said upper web in lthe region of the connections of `said bolster columns therewith, and reinforcing webs extending diagonally across the corners otsaid bolster opening, said reinforcing webs merging into said overhanging flanges inwardly of Vsaid-bolster columns and into the walls or said `bolster columns outwardly off said bolster opening, said reinforcing webs .also mergin yinto the transverse faces of said bolster connns.

6. A one-piece car truck side Aframe comprising la compression chord, a 4tension chord, and spaced bolster columns extend- `ing vertically lbetween said compression and tension chords, said tension chord having a central horizontal spring supporting portion including an upper web joined a't'its ends with said bolster column, extension flanges on said web extending .beyond the sides of said frame, each Vflange having continuation webs at its ends extending up- ,wardlyhatan angle in gradually decreasing widthjand merG'ing into the sides of said bolster columns7 outwardly of the transverse edges thereof, a lower web spaced `from said upper web, spaced vertical struts extending between said-upper and l*lower webs, andinclined webs extending from said lower web and joined with said upper web `inthe region of the connections of said upper web lwith said bolster columns.

V7. 'Acne-piece car truclrside frame comprising a compression chord, a tension chord, and spaced'bolster columns extending vertically between said compression and tension chords, -said tension' chord having a centralhorizontal spring supporting portion including an upper web joined at its ends with said bolster column, extension :flanges on said `web extending beyond the sia-es of said frame, each flangehaving continuation webs at ,its endsextending up- .wardlyat an angle in gradually decreasing width'and lmerging into the sides of said bolster columns outwardly or' the transverse edges thereof, `a lower web spaced from said upper web, spaced vertical struts extending between said'upper and,lov.fer.webs, said vertical struts being spaced from the sides of said spring supporting portion and inclined webs extending from said vlower Aweb and joined with said upper web in the region of the connections of said upper web with said bolster columns. i

8. A one-piece car truck side frame comprising a compression chord, a tension chord, and spacedbolster columns extendlng verticallybetween said compression and tension chords, said tension chord having'a cent-ral horizontal spring supporting portion including' ,an upper web joined at its ends with said bolster column, extension flanges on said web extending beyond the sidesof said frame, each flange having continuation webs at its, endswextending upward- 1y at an angle in gradually decreasing width and merging into the sides of said bolster columns outwardly of the transverse edges thereof, a lower web spaced from said upper web, spaced Vertical struts extending between said upper and lower webs, and inclined webs extending from said lower web and joined with said upper web in the region of the connections of said upper web with said bolster columns, said continuation Webs also merging into the transverse webs of said bolster columns.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

MERTON H. HAMMETT. 

